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IPRA: Fatal 2012 Shooting Of Teen By CPD ‘unwarranted’

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In a report issued Thursday night, the Independent Police Review Authority determined that the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy by a Chicago Police officer in 2012 was “unprovoked and unwarranted,” the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

Dakota Bright was shot in the back of the head by an officer on Nov. 8, 2012, near 67th and Indiana.

In its report, IPRA said the officer — who was not named in the report — “used an unreasonable and excessive amount of force when he shot (Dakota).”

In June 2016, the City Council approved a $925,000 settlement to the family of Dakota, who was a freshman at Robeson High School when he was killed.

Dakota was at a friend’s house about 3:30 p.m. that day when he left to walk to his grandmother’s home nearby, his family told the Sun-Times shortly after his death.

Nearby officers were responding to a call of a burglary — which proved to be unfounded — when they saw the teen walking through an alley.

The officer who shot Dakota said he saw him holding a black handgun. The teen was trying to stick the gun in his waistband before running off, the officer told IPRA.

“These officers were not only colleagues who frequently worked together, they were friends that socialized together,” IPRA wrote.

“They had ample opportunity to discuss the events among themselves at the scene of the incident as well as on at least three other occasions,” investigators said. “Even if there was no collusion regarding how the officers would ultimately describe the events in question, these multiple discussions could easily have influenced each officer’s recollection of what happened.”

“He wasn’t the monster they’re making him out to be,” said his mother, Panzy Edwards. She said she doesn’t believe the police account of what happened. “No matter what he did or how he did it, they shouldn’t have killed him.”